This argument is pretty stupid. There's no way to quantify or qualify being a fan. Who has more gear? Who has been to move games? Who has more autographs? Who has stalked the most players? Who has smoked the most weed with Walton? It's all subjective. I can tell you why I'm most disappointed. I can look back at some of our draft picks over the past ten years and see that we passed up on Chris Paul and Kevin Durant. I don't care who we drafted in their place. The fact that we missed out on those two players is disappointing.
I have been a big Oden fan until the end of last season. I then became an about 95%-Oden fan, because I'm preparing for if he goes down this season, to say let him go. I have no criticism of his self-photo, or of Pritchard drafting him over Durant. I give him 0% of the blame for getting injured each time. A separate issue is his slow recovery time every time. For that I give him 5% for his passive attitude, and 5% to management for being too permissive. 90% still goes to bad luck--his body has an abnormally long recovery time, which may destroy his career. But the larger point isn't that he should be more of a go-getter. The looming issue is his upcoming contract. That's why a decision, not patience, is now in order. Will another team offer him more than we think he's worth? If so, get something for him before he leaves. What is he worth? $20M per year times the percentage of games he is healthy? He has played 1/3 of the games, that is, mabe 1/4 healthy and not hurting. If management predicts he will get an offer over $8M, and if he misses most of this season, then I'm going to advocate letting him go or trading him.
I don't have 5000 words of Oden hate in me, but to all of you ardent Oden backers, all I want to say is, "deal."
Yep. I understand why people feel sorry for the kid, or even feel some attachment/loyalty to him. The time for that is past. It isn't "hate", just flinty realism.
I'm not suggesting max him out. Not unless you see a full season of all star quality. How's that for "dealing" with it and "flinty realism". If he gets hurt again or performs at a low level, you low ball him or let him go. Giving up before next season isn't realistic it's stupid and unnecessarily pessimistic. He's under contract. Evaluate and make a decision. I long ago said trade him as the center piece for cp3. This isn't Rudy you don't trade him for a draft pick or cut him.
yeah i dont really see the hate either. it's more fallout from crushed hopes. everyone knows oden isnt trying to be injured on purpose and nobody seems to doubt his desire to play - its just the tantilising teaser of 'what could be' if we had our team at full strength. there is a lot more regret than there used to be though - after the first injury most were still happy with him over durant but id say there would be very very few people that wouldnt swap the two today, again - ultimately it's not greg's fault but the franchise is bigger than greg. i still like the kid and want him to do well for us, but if this season isnt a solid one from him i'll struggle to care about his bigger picture - we need him on the court!
I've developed Blazer game-paranoia anxiety disorder. Every time Greg lands from leaping or just plain 'ol running I think he's going to break his leg in two.
Between Oden's contract status and the pending lock-out, the team has 3 basic choices. 1) Extend him before the lock-out starts (sometime next summer). The risk - that what looks like a reasonable contract under the current CBA turns into an albatross under the new deal. 2) Refuse to extend him until after the lock-out. If his physical problems continue, no big deal. If he actually gets healthy, you risk having him walk as a free agent out of spite. 3) Keep the door open for trades. The risk, that he will suddenly turn into a star at some point in the future. There are no "good" options here - only varying degrees of risk. IMHO, a good trade, if one can be found, is the least noxious of the bunch.
Oden has been very effective when healthy. It comes down to whether someone thinks he will continue to be injured at a remarkable rate or not. If one thinks that, then it doesn't matter HOW well he plays. Personally? I think that he'll be like Ilgauskas and Camby and overcome ridiculously frequent injuries early in his career and settle into a normal playing rotation. Once he does that he will be an all-star level player EVEN IF he doesn't improve at all. If he improves--as most 22 year-olds do--then he will be a clear-cut all-star and potentially a HoF-level player. Regarding his contract/free agency: no amount of money can acquire a player with his potential. I don't think he's worth the max, because no other team would give it to him, but paying him whatever it takes to retain him would be more wise than letting him leave over salary, since we will be over the cap whether we re-sign him or not. Ed O.
This. And to be honest with you if we signed him for a reasonable rate now and he stayed healthy and blew up to clear cut all-star or HOF status I would have ZERO problem restructuring his deal and maxing him out.
The problem is, what is that reasonable amount. Discussed in this new thread. http://sportstwo.com/threads/168502-Making-A-Case-For-Greg-Oden-(HoopsWorld)
At this point in his career Sam Bowie was worth Buck Williams. A Three time all star. Oden doesn't have a chance of such a return. So for better or worse we're stuck with him. This is depressing.
You are burrowing under the low ground in this thread, my man. Are you OK mentally? I really don't see you as a poster who needs to start a call out thread. You're just kind of "there". Another tree in the forest, if you wil. Also, you never once addressed my relevant rebuttal to your claim that Oden's expectations were a product of KP and the "media", only. I provided proof that Oden himself was talking titles before even stepping on the court. For this factual post of mine, I in return get this lame post? Up your game.
